Honey Tobacco

[Rictic]

So reading these threads got me all excited about trying this out. Mostly the steeping for a month method, as I think I can easily forget this stuff for a month not have to have it ASAP.

Naturally I started wondering about incorporating some honey into the equation, as honey flue is generally my favorite flavor. Didn't want to try it blindly if someone already has and failed or if it sounds like a bad idea to more experienced DIYers (I'm a DIY newb with ideas).

I was thinking of dehydrating some of my favorite honey to concentrate the flavor and avoid diluting the pg/vg with it's liquid content. Then I had two ideas about how to add it to the tobacco extract:

-Either cure the tobacco beforehand with some of the dehydrated honey (basically honey sugar) for a few days and then adding the pg/vg directly for the extraction. Or

-Mixing the dehydrated honey with some 190 proof organic ethyl alcohol to create a sort of DIY super concentrate and then adding that to the extracted tobacco juice to taste.

Of course the measurements would be worked out later, I just wanted to get a general idea of how people thought this sounded.

 

[Rachy_B]

I just use 5% Honey flavour and 10% Virginia flavour...x

 

[Rictic]

You mean pre-made honey flavorings? I've tried many honey juices and flavorings and they just don't cut it for me

 

[Dave L]

Have you checked the price of organic alcohol? Sure put me off my tincturing experiments last year. I use Bacardi 151. Haven't tried it with honey OR tobacco, but I bet your sugar cure method would be awesome.

 

[Rictic]

Have you checked the price of organic alcohol? Sure put me off my tincturing experiments last year. I use Bacardi 151. Haven't tried it with honey OR tobacco, but I bet your sugar cure method would be awesome.

Oh wow yeah I checked when I read your post. And you have to buy large quantities no less. Yeah I guess just the honey-sugar cured would have to do at least with trying it out, lol.

 

[Lavaca5]

I love honey flue, too. This sounds great, but I need some schooling on the basics, here. How would you dehydrate the honey? Would your basic Cuisinart dehydrator do the trick? And what would the curing process entail? I'm pretty sure having a fire shed in the back yard would be a violation of my deed restrictions

 

[Rictic]

I would be experimenting with this as well Lava, but I read this and it pretty much confirmed the method I had thought of using to dehydrate the honey. As far as the curing process, what I've read so far is that you would mix dehydrated honey (honey sugar) with the tobacco in a bag before you add the extraction liquid for a couple of days.

I'm confident a basic Cuisinart dehydrator would do the job just fine. You just have to store it quickly and seal it as best as possible after dehydration to avoid any moisture, which would result in the honey sugar turning back into honey globs. I'd say just have your tobacco ready so you can add the honey right after it comes out of the dehydrator, and let that sit a couple of days.

All this is theory on my part, based on accounts I've read of people curing their tobacco with other dry ingredients (like coconut or cocoa) in this manner and they say it worked well. I say why not with dehydrated honey.

 

[Lavaca5]

Absolutely - I say that to almost everything. My sister is actually the one with the Cuisinart, so I'll have to get her to say it to. No guarantees there

 

[Kurt]

Using actual honey is not recommended...will caramelize on the coil and gunk everything up. Some of that vapor will be actual smoke.

 

[Rictic]

Using actual honey is not recommended...will caramelize on the coil and gunk everything up. Some of that vapor will be actual smoke.

Even if you use the dehydrated honey to cure the tobacco leaves, shake off the excess, and use micro filters after extracting?

 

[thejaker]

I think what Kurt is getting at is that the sugars in the honey are the no-no here. but it is possible to extract the honey flavoring essence using the appropriate solvent. 99.9% IPA has worked for me to extract certain essences from sugary liquids, such as honey, maple syrup, caramel, etc... But a solvent extraction should do the trick for you; and the key is to evaporate as much solvent afterwards as possible to concentrate your honey extract as much as possible. Give it a whirl and let us know how it works!!

Jake

 

[Rictic]

I think what Kurt is getting at is that the sugars in the honey are the no-no here. but it is possible to extract the honey flavoring essence using the appropriate solvent. 99.9% IPA has worked for me to extract certain essences from sugary liquids, such as honey, maple syrup, caramel, etc... But a solvent extraction should do the trick for you; and the key is to evaporate as much solvent afterwards as possible to concentrate your honey extract as much as possible. Give it a whirl and let us know how it works!!

Jake

Thanks for this info jaker. I forgot about this thread took me a while to get to this. Soon as I find some 99% isopropyl alcohol I'll give this a shot and post. Had been looking for 99% organic ethyl but... man it's tough.